Help! My Car Got Hit by Fireworks

No one wants to be Googling “Car Paint Shops Near Kansas City” the morning after a
night of fun firework-fueled festivities. What’s even worse is to realize that the damage will be severe enough
to require maintenance. If you’re the unfortunate owner of a firework damaged car, have no fear, because
McCarthy Collision Centers have the solution.

Finding firework debris on car roofs is no new phenomenon, but it’s surely an unwelcome one.
So, no matter how you ended up with car paint damage or a cracked windshield from a firework, we’re here to
help.

What To Do if your Car was Hit by a Firework:

Follow these steps if you suspect your car was hit by a stray firework, or stop by any
McCarthy Collision Center location to get a free repair estimate:

1. Determine if the damage is from a firework or another source, then determine the
   severity of the burn. Sometimes, when fireworks hit a car, they leave a lot of soot and residue, but damage
   the paint’s veneer is minimal.
2. Do your best to determine who is at fault for setting off the fireworks who damaged
   your car. It might also be wise to pull any security camera, Ring doorbell, or dashcam footage that could’ve
   caught any of the action. If needed, ask some of your neighbors if they happened to get any firework lightings
   on tape.
3. Consider making a police report, especially if no one admits to shooting off the
   fireworks. We suggest treating the situation like a hit and
   run accident. Some car insurance companies will require you to make a report before they will even
   consider covering the cost of damages.
4. Begin discussions with your car insurance provider (and your favorite local collision center) to see what the price
   tag looks like for this festive mistake. Cleanup could range from needing a simple paint touchup to requiring
   an entirely new bumper or window to be installed. Our staff at your nearest
   McCarthy dealership would also be happy to discuss whether the firework damage would be covered under
   your car’s extended warranty.
5. Bring your car in for a free repair estimate at any of
   McCarthy’s Collision Center locations across the Kansas City region! Our staff will be happy to provide you
   with a wide range of services available to remedy your situation at any budget.

And if you decide to go solo with your firework car paint removal, let us give you some
additional pointers.

How to Remove Firework Residue from Car Paint

We recommend first attempting to simply buff the mark out with an automotive-safe rag
or microfiber cloth. Once the paint is cleared of any soot, you’ll quickly be able to see the full extent of the
damage. If the damage is minimal, you shouldn’t have much more work to do to remove all the soot and ash from
your car. Lucky you! But if there’s a small scratch left to the paint underneath the debris, take your car into
our shop to have the scratch repaired,
fast. Even a small bit of exposed metal can quickly start to rust if left untreated.

If the paint is beginning to badly flake at or near the damaged area, it might be time to take
your car into a body shop, as additional buffing might only make the situation worse. For help with keeping your
car’s paint from additional peeling or flaking after cleaning off that pesky firework residue, click here. And if there’s still significant visible damage after your best attempt at
cleaning, consider checking out our expert advice on when to repair and when to replace a car part.

For Auto Body Work in Kansas City, Choose McCarthy Collision Centers

For all auto body damage queries, count on McCarthy Collision Centers to get you back on the
road. With collision center locations in Blue Springs, MO, Olathe, KS, Overland Park, KS, and Lee’s Summit, MO,
our service techs are proud to serve communities on both sides of the MO/KS line. For towing, a free repair
estimate, an answer to a complex autobody question, or help following an accident, folks across Kansas City know
to “Call 911, and then call 800-NEW-AGAIN.”